Search Results for: no spend april

My goals for 2017

Get 7- 8 Hours of Sleep Each Night

I averaged about 6.5 -7 hours of sleep each night this week so I’d say that was pretty good {for me anyway}.

Make Saving a Priority, Not an Idea

• I redeemed 2200 Swagbucks for a $25 gift card to Amazon. {I have redeemed over $2,500+ in gift cards over the past 7 years that I’ve been playing the whole Swagbucks game. So seriously, it does add up.
• I planted another round of zucchini and carrots in the garden boxes.
• Resisted buying sandwich bags, plastic wrap and foil for yet another week.
• Instead of paying a bunch of money for chemicals to get the moss out of our yard {so I can plant some grass seed this summer} I enlisted an idle able-bodied housemate to rake all the moss out. 😉 Call me crazy, but it seems kind of silly to throw a bunch of chemicals on your lawn only to then turn around and try and grow something {grass seed} a month later.
• Counting down the days until I won’t care about a lawn {or the cost of maintaining it} because I will no longer be living in a HOA community.
• Keep asking myself… Do I need this? A year from now… will I still be happy with this purchase. Is there a way to get it for less money?
• Found $0.12 on the ground. And picked it up. Right in front of my husband. Which makes him crazy.

Live a little

Set off the smoke detector TWICE.

Let’s just say… The HH would not make a good paramedic. He tends to FREAK OUT at things like this {or like when a 5 year old hits the 6 year old in the head on accident with a golf club and blood is gushing everywhere}. And Monkey Boy, he’s a fainter. But me and The Girl? We just calmly saunter over, access the problem and DEAL WITH IT CALMLY and efficiently.

Maybe it’s because we are active women… and blood and vomit and injuries don’t phase us… I don’t know. But there should be a club out there for men who freak out ALL THE TIME over silly stuff. Just sayin’.

Visit 52 REAL Bakeries

Anyone know of a good bakery in Reno, Nevada?

Have 1 “no spend” week each month

I made it through this past week without buying anything! Yee-Haw.

I did however repaint this farmhouse table that I found for $20 at St. Vincent De Paul last week to stage the dining room.  It originally had a light stain with a bunch scratches on it but it was nothing a few coats of paint couldn’t fix. Patrick O’Malley the Irish realtor said we needed a table in the dining room {we sold our big farmhouse table last fall}, my mom said it would be okay to leave the space blank {so people could imagine a table in the space instead of being hung up on the size of the table in the room}.

But when I spotted this table {that seats 6} I decided to snatch it up. Now I’m wondering if I need to find 6 chairs… or just throw a thing or two on the wall and call it good. What do you think? Also, would you go with green apples or red in the basket?

Start a Line of Rug Hooking Patterns

So far I have 8 rug hooking patterns listed in my Etsy shop with 3 more drawn out but not completed. I’m having a hard time finding time to squeeze some rug hooking in lately but as long as I get 12 patterns done by the end of the year… I’ll be happy.

Turn My Wool Stash into $2,500. Mission Accomplished

This past week I sold another $45.50 worth of goodness in my Etsy shop which brings my total to $4300.32 for the year. I haven’t listed anything new in a while {and don’t plan to until mid August} so I’m pleased that I made a little something.

Purge 250 Items Including Selling Larger Items We No Longer Feel We Need

I found the 5 items above plus 3 more in the garage for a total of 212 items to get rid of so far this year. There are still a few things I’m trying to talk the HH into getting rid of and a few things I plan to sneak in at the very end {so you know who doesn’t see them} but I think hitting my goal of 250 items is going to be close. We’ll see.

Learn to Crochet Mission Accomplished

Dote on My Husband Even More Than I Do Now.

Every day people… everyday.

Lose the Muffin Top. {again}

I did really good this week. Probably because I didn’t really leave home or eat pastries. Maybe there’s a connection there.

Wear out {most of} the clothing I already own.

Doing great on this goal. But I must admit I’m feeling like a fashionista lately because I have 2 new {to me} nice dresses to wear to the HH’s work function later this month and I only spent $9.50 for both pieces. They are both well made and a name brand {Ann Taylor and White House Black Market}. I think I could sell them when I’m done wearing them to get my money back, but I think they are both pretty classic dresses and could wear them for the next 5 years so I might keep them.

Try 52 New Recipes

I didn’t try any new recipes last week but I did make a different version of my roasted vegetable frittata recipe.

Read 52 Books

I listened to Homeland and Other Stores on Hoopla {I liked it} and wasted 99 minutes of my life that I can never get back watching The Ticket. Which, by the way was not only slow… but the ending? It really didn’t exist. BOOOOO.

Give Back to 12 Different Organizations in My Community

• January – Donated to Quilts from the Heart in Memory of my brother.
• February – Donated to Empty Bowls Fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club.
• March – Donated to my daughter’s mentor who was in a horrible car accident.
• April – I know what I’m going to do… I just have to do it.
• May – $100 Tip to a waitress on Mother’s day.
• June – Waiting for the right opportunity to pop up.

And then, there’s those top secret goals we’re not talking about yet.

• Secret Goal #1 Sell East Coast House Mission Accomplished
• Secret Goal #2 Chickens! Mission Accomplished
• Secret Goal #3
• Secret Goal #4

How about YOU? Did you set any goals for 2017? How are they coming along?

~Mavis

Read About My 2017 Goals HERE.

My goals for 2017

Get 7- 8 Hours of Sleep Each Night

Although I got 9 hours of sleep on Friday night, I still struggle with this goal. I’m beginning to think we are all just wired differently and if 6 hours is my norm… than that’s okay. We don’t all need 8 hours of shuteye a night.

Make Saving a Priority, Not an Idea

I am rockin’ this goal this year, and even the HH is impressed. It’s all about priorities baby!

Live a little

The Girl and I had an epic mini holiday and had a blast. I am constantly amazed at how well we travel together and how she is up for almost anything. Details coming soon.

Visit 52 REAL Bakeries

Because without tea, there is nothing but darkness and chaos.

Have 1 “no spend” week each month

There are a lot of bits and pieces floating around in the fridge right now so I’ll start my “no spend” week on Monday.

Start a Line of Rug Hooking Patterns

I am now up to 8 rug hooking patterns! I finished another pattern last week, continued hooking on a larger pattern {that I probably won’t have finished until the end of summer} on and drew out another chicken pattern. It kind of makes me a little crazy to have so many projects in the works but hey, that’s just the way it goes sometimes, right? Keep calm and craft on I say. Things will fall into place eventually.

Turn My Wool Stash into $2,500.

This past week I sold $49.99 worth of goodness in my Etsy shop which brings my total to $4254. 72 for the year. I haven’t listed anything new in a while {and don’t plan to until mid August} so I’m pleased that I made a little something.

Purge 250 Items Including Selling Larger Items We No Longer Feel We Need

The neighborhood garage sale is about a month away so The Girl and I decided to go through all the boxes and get everything priced so the morning of the sale would go more smoothly. I also told Girly Girl, Mrs. HB and Leopard Girl about the sale so I’m thinking we’ll have a pretty good stall.

The Girl went through her closet {again} and found 24 more items to get rid of. I also added 17 more items {but didn’t take a picture because some of the items were gifts}. This brings our total to 204 items we’ve purged this year.

I still have to make my last sweep through the garage as well as convince the HH we don’t need his giant man speakers {seriously!} that have been sitting in the closet for nearly 3 years. Is your husband still hanging on to his? Seriously, what’s up with that? There’s this thing called technology… and I think they’ve invented speakers that fit in the palm of your hand recently. But what do I know? I’m just a girl.

Learn to Crochet Mission Accomplished 

Hey, I tried. I did learn to crochet and learned that I didn’t love it.

Dote on My Husband Even More Than I Do Now.

After being gone for the previous 36 hours I got home last night around 8:30 and noticed there were no dirty dishes in the sink. I asked my husband what he had for dinner {nothing} and then whipped up a quick breakfast dinner for the boys. Seriously. They would rather starve than MAKE SOMETHING TO EAT. I’ll never understand it. It’s one of life’s mysteries.

Lose the Muffin Top. {again}

Not even going to go there.

Wear out {most of} the clothing I already own.

Why are our most rattiest shoes/clothes the most comfortable? 😉 Seriously though, I’m working on wearing out my stuff.

Try 52 New Recipes

I tried 3 new recipes this past week! Stay tuned.

Read 52 Books

Do you listen to podcasts? I typically only listen to them on road trips for some reason.  Wait, scratch that, I only listen to them on road trips because Lucy ate the radio wires {antenna} in the back of the car when she was a pup and so I can’t get the local radio station while I’m in the car. Anywho, this past weekend I caught up on Mike Rowe’s, The Way I Heard It stories and I can’t say enough good things about them. He’s just so likable and has you guessing until the end. We love them!

Give Back to 12 Different Organizations in My Community

• January – Donated to Quilts from the Heart in Memory of my brother.
• February – Donated to Empty Bowls Fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club.
• March – Donated to my daughter’s mentor who was in a horrible car accident.
• April – I know what I’m going to do… I just have to do it.
• May – $100 Tip to a waitress on Mother’s day.

And then, there’s those top secret goals we’re not talking about yet.

• Secret Goal #1 Sell East Coast House {I talked about it last week} Mission Accomplished
• Secret Goal #2 Chickens! Mission Accomplished
• Secret Goal #3
• Secret Goal #4

How about YOU? Did you set any goals for 2017? How are they coming along?

~Mavis

Read About My 2017 Goals HERE.

My goals for 2017

Get 7- 8 Hours of Sleep Each Night

I went walking with Mrs. HB on Tuesday and she mentioned she had a business trip coming up that she wasn’t looking forward to. Suddenly questions started flying out of my mouth… “What hotel are you staying at? Do you have to share a room with anyone? Do you have the rental car all to yourself? What is your schedule going to be like?” 

Yada yada yada, I ended up tagging along and we had a blast!!! I mean c’mon, a mini girls {working} vacation with free hotel and car rental, who wouldn’t be up for that? Anywho, I learned quite a few things about Mrs. HB that I didn’t know before {I’ll fill you in later} but one of them was that she LOVES to sleep {like 9-10 hours a night!}. 😉 And apparently I’m quite content with 6 hours. It made for an interesting few days and I’m glad I went along. 🙂

Make Saving a Priority, Not an Idea

How low can it go?

Last month when sold our east coast home we decided to apply the money we received at closing {the equity after realtor/closing costs} to the principal balance on the house we are currently living in. In one giant swoop it knocked 4 years off our mortgage. Do you remember what my #1 goal was in 2016? Ya well, it’s on, like Donkey Kong. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.

Live a little

Did you have a set of those Merino wool socks from Costco? My mom gifted me a set 2 winters ago and the holes…. they have been non stop. True, I wear them practically every day but I’ve mended the death out of those things over the past 2 years and finally had to toss them in the scrap fabric pile. I found a set of 4 Wool IQ socks on Amazon last week {The price was $4.54 when I placed my order} and I’m really happy with the quality so far.

Visit 52 REAL Bakeries

Bakery post coming soon! Mrs. HB and I found a good one!!!

Have 1 “no spend” week each month

I’m going to shoot for the end of June.

Start a Line of Rug Hooking Patterns

I am now up to 8 rug hooking patterns! And I’ve even added a bunch of hand dyed wool to my Etsy shop. I am currently working on 2 new patterns and am hoping to have them listed in the next few weeks.

Turn My Wool Stash into $2,500.

This is my slow season for rug hooking… and I didn’t sell anything last week but so far I have brought in a total of $4204.73 for the year. Last summer I put my shops on “vacation mode” but this summer I’ve decided to just keep them open in case a few sales trickle in. We’ll see. Things usually start back up again towards the end of August so I’ll just continue making stuff and wait for fall to list it.

Purge 250 Items Including Selling Larger Items We No Longer Feel We Need

So apparently we aren’t done! 😉

This past week The Girl went through her closet and was able to find 23 things to get rid of. I was a little sad she decided to get rid of her formal dresses, but seriously… I get it.  It’s highly unlikely she’ll find a buyer for them at our neighborhood yard sale so if she doesn’t, we will be donating her dresses and clothing to a local teen program that offers prom dresses/clothing to foster kids.

We will make one more sweep through the house and garage next week and then start pricing stuff for the upcoming neighborhood yard sale. So far we have purged 163 items this year. I’m not sure we will hit the 250 mark… but we’ll see.

Oh ya. I bought 4 items off her. 😉 3 tank tops at $0.50 each and a blue warm up coat for $2. I normally don’t wear blue, but I figure it’s a little classier than the green blanket with holes I wrap myself up in {around the house and outside when I’m gardening} when I’m cold. Ha! Also, those slippers… best gift ever! Thanks mom.

Learn to Crochet Mission Accomplished 

Dote on My Husband Even More Than I Do Now.

After a few days away I’m looking forward to hanging out with the HH today. He makes me crazy, but I sure do love him. And that hug… when you haven’t seen someone you love in a few days… It’s the best.

Lose the Muffin Top. {again}

Seriously?

Wear out {most of} the clothing I already own.

Working on it.

Try 52 New Recipes

I didn’t try any new recipes this past week but I am going to make this today.

Read 52 Books

After watching Anne with an E {twice!} and LOVING it, I’ve decided to listen to Anne of Green Gables on audio book this week while I work. It’s been a long time since I’ve read the book and I’m looking forward to it. If you haven’t already, check to see if your library offers a free subscription to Hoopla Digital. All the books I’ve listened to over the last year have been through this service and I really love it.

Do you find yourself re-reading books? I hope I’m not the only one.

Give Back to 12 Different Organizations in My Community

• January – Donated to Quilts from the Heart in Memory of my brother.
• February – Donated to Empty Bowls Fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club.
• March – Donated to my daughter’s mentor who was in a horrible car accident.
• April – I know what I’m going to do… I just have to do it.
• May – $100 Tip to a waitress on Mother’s day.

And then, there’s those top secret goals we’re not talking about yet.

• Secret Goal #1 Sell East Coast House {I talked about it last week} Mission Accomplished
• Secret Goal #2 Chickens! Mission Accomplished
• Secret Goal #3
• Secret Goal #4

How about YOU? Did you set any goals for 2017? How are they coming along?

~Mavis

Read About My 2017 Goals HERE.